Martin Short stepped out for a rare red carpet appearance at the 2026 Emmy Awards following the death of his daughter, Katherine, earlier this year.
Short, 76, posed for photos alongside Only Murders in the Building costar Steve Martin at the 78th annual Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles on Monday, September 14. The pair of longtime pals looked dapper in classic tuxedos and bow ties.
Selena Gomez was also spotted turning heads on the red carpet in a glistening gold gown but did not appear to cross paths with her costars before the awards ceremony.
Short is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Oliver Putnam on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. The show received a total of five Emmy nominations this year, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
Nearly seven months before the awards show, news broke in February that Short’s daughter had been found dead at the age of 42.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” read a statement from the Saturday Night Live alum’s rep. “The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Katherine’s death was eventually ruled a suicide. According to an autopsy report obtained by Us in May, Short called one of his daughter’s friends to “check on her welfare” after he hadn’t heard from her in “over 24 hours.”
The report indicated that there were “multiple notes” at the scene presumably left by Katherine. Her friend discovered the notes and called 911.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner’s summary, Katherine “had a history of depression and other mental health illnesses.” She tested positive for benzodiazepines at the time of her death.
Short shared his daughter with late wife Nancy Dolman, along with sons Oliver, 40, and Henry, 37.
In May, Short spoke about his daughter’s death for the first time in depth during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
“It’s been a nightmare for the family,” he said at the time. “But the understanding [is] that mental health and cancer, like my wife’s, are both diseases, and sometimes with diseases they are terminal. And my daughter fought for a long time with extreme mental health, borderline personality disorder, other things, and did the best she could until she couldn’t.”
